Why The Cheapest Agent Costs You More

Most people are wrong about what agents charge. The assumption is all agents are equal. They select the lowest fee. They believe they are smart. If one charges less and the other is higher, they pick Agent A. They think they saved $5,000. This is wrong. The low fee agent loses you money eventually. The reason? The result is poorer. The gap in the final figure is much more than the saving in fees.

Think about it. If they give up their own money, how can they defend your house price? They don't. They fold straight away. If a low offer comes, the cheap agent says: "Take it." They want the quick sale. They don't care about your extra $10k. A good agent fights for every dollar. We know our worth.

I watch vendors locally miss out on huge sums for a small discount. It breaks my heart. It is a one-time event. The goal is the peak. Commission is a cost of sale. If I get you a premium, and the fee is slightly higher, you are $15,000 better off. Look at the bottom line. Focus on what you keep, not the fee.

Price vs. Performance In Real Estate

There is a difference between cheap and good. A cheap suit and a tailored one are not the same. Salespeople are the same. Some are basic. They put it on the internet and wait. Anyone can do that. Why pay for that?.

A skilled agent markets proactively. We call buyers. We advise on presentation. We market aggressively. Crucially: we negotiate. When the offer is "$600,000 is my limit", the order taker writes it up. The pro knows how to get them to $620,000. That increase is your money. That is performance.

Budget brokers rely on volume. They must sell many to pay bills. They don't have time to spend time on you. They treat you like a number. I take fewer clients. To work harder on your sale. My commission enables me to do the job properly. Avoid the churner.

How Negotiation Skills Impact Your Pocket

It isn't shouting. It is influence. It is knowing when to speak and when to shut up. Understanding signals. Building pressure. A master can make a buyer increase their offer without them knowing. We use the market to get the max.

This skill takes years to master. It is worth money. You engage us for this skill. Not to put a sign up. You hire us to handle the money conversation. If your agent is weak, you lose. They ask for reductions instead of lifting the buyer. Easier to lower price than to lift a buyer. Lazy agents crunch sellers. Great agents lift buyers.

Interview question: "Tell me a story how you negotiated." Listen to the answer. If they just say "I got an offer and they accepted," worry. You need "The offer was $500k, I worked them to $530k." Hire that one. I fight for you. I guarantee it.

Understanding Advertising Costs

Cheap agents often offer "advertising included." Attractive? Wrong. Nothing is free. If marketing is "free", they cut corners. Basic listing. Bad pictures. You get no signboard. Because they are paying. They minimize cost.

To sell for a premium price, you need the best. Top spot online. Professional photography. Virtual styling. Targeted marketing. This costs money. It casts a wide net. Volume creates price. Bidding wars = profit. If you save $1,000 on marketing and fail to reach someone, it costs you value. That is bad math.

I recommend vendor paid marketing. No corners cut. We do it properly to get the result. Your house. Showcase it. Don't hide it in the dark for a small saving. It drives the sale.

Beware Of Over-Quoting Agents

Another trick of desperation promising a high price. They tell you it is worth millions when reality is lower. They do this to win the job. You hire them believing the lie. Later, it sits there. They blame the market. They reduce it to the real value. It sells low after wasting time.

But you hired the liar. The honest agent who was accurate was rejected. Don't reward lies. If it sounds too good to be true, check the data. Show me the sales. Without proof, they are buying the listing. I tell the truth. Evidence based. I might be lower, I achieve it. We beat it through negotiation, not empty promises.

Be aware. It is a game. Find the ethical agent. Pick the agent the hard truth, not fairytales. That is the expert who succeeds at the top.

The Interview Checklist For Sellers

In the appraisal, quiz them:
1. How do you negotiate?.
2. Show me background information recent sales.
3. How do you auction?.
4. Justify your commission.
5. What is your marketing strategy?.

How they respond reveals the truth. If they waffle, walk away. If they are sharp, they are the one. If they drop their fee as soon as you ask, don't hire them. If they give away their money, they will give away yours.

Ask me. Test me. I am prepared. I know my value. Pick me. I am not the cheapest, I get results. Excellence costs nothing with the final price.